ing to our fellow-citizens De Witt Clinton as the person best fitted to fill the chair of state, we speak almost the unanimous voice of our constituents.

Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the convention of the several counties of this district, to resist all the blandishments of intrigue, and to put in nomination for Governor the Hon. De Witt Clinton.

Resolved, That we will cordially support all fair nominations made by persons duly authorized by the people, and in which their opinions and wishes are fairly represented.

Resolved, That the Republican electors in the several counties of this State, not represented in the Legislature by Republican representations, have an inherent, unquestionable right to a voice in the nomination of a Chief Magistrate, and to send delegates, equal in number to the representatives of their respective counties, to a convention to be held for that purpose.

Resolved, That the chairman and secretary sign these resolutions, and that they be published in the Republican papers of this district, and in the Albany Register and Argus.

JOSEPH D. SELDEN, Chairman.

ABM. MORRELL, Secretary

No. II.-VOL. 1, p. 52.

Nomination of James Kent, Ambrose Spencer, Stephen Van Rensselaer, and Abraham Van Vechten, as Delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1821, and a Biographical Sketch of each.

After the resolutions had been read, Samuel A. Foot, Esq., recommended and urged the adoption of them in an energetic and impressive address of considerable length. He fully and heartily concurred in the spirit which they breathed, and in the dignified and liberal sentiments which they expressed, and hoped they would be unanimously adopted. Although they were in themselves so explicit and satisfactory, and the gentleman who preceded him in addressing the chair had so eloquently discussed the subject to which they related as to leave him little to add,

yet his mind was so deeply impressed with the solemnity of the occasion on which his fellow-citizens had convened, that he could not forbear to make a few remarks, with a hope that an interchange of ideas might be beneficial. It was now forty-four years since the constitution, which was about to be amended, perhaps re-modelled, was established by the fathers of the state; and during that period it had undergone but one or two slight alterations.

A fabric thus venerable in age was endeared to us by a thousand interesting and pleasing associations. Under its protection, and with the smiles of Providence, the revolutionary fathers had achieved our independence and freedom; and it had thus far secured the rights and liberties of their descendants. Since its adoption, the state of New York had enjoyed a degree of pros-perity unprecedented in the history of nations. She had risen to greatness and grandeur, and become one of the brightest stars in the American constellation-one of the proudest pillars in the American Union. The sails of her commerce have whitened' every sea-her mariners were found upon every shore, and in every port upon the globe. Her agriculture had flourished with unexampled prosperity; manufactures had sprung up; the arts and sciences had been protected and cherished; and the advantages of education carried to the doors of the inhabitants in the remotest corners of the state. In short, the citizens of this state, under its present constitution, imperfect as it was supposed to be, had enjoyed an usual share of civil and religious liberty; and as they sat by their own firesides, in the bosom of their families, surrounded with peace and plenty, they had reason to thank God that they were citizens of a free country, and in possession of so many blessings.

Mr. Foot said that many changes had taken place in the condition of the state since 1777, which seemed to render some amendments in the constitution necessary and proper. He mentioned several of the alterations which had been proposed, but thought that this was not the proper time and place for discussing the propriety of such amendments. The object of this meeting was to promote the election of delegates to the convention, in whose hands the charter of our liberties would be safe, and to whom our invaluable rights and dearest privileges might

be confided for revision and improvement. A ticket composed of such candidates had been nominated, with a liberality of sentiment and a disregard to local feelings and prejudices which did credit to the members of the county convention. He could hardly do more than echo the encomiums which had been justly bestowed upon the individuals composing this ticket, by the gentleman who preceded him, and in the resolutions which had just been read; and yet could not do justice to his own feelings without dwelling for a few minutes on the pre-eminent qualifications of the four candidates in nomination, and spoke of them nearly as follows:

STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, rightly named and universally known as the "Patron of Albany," is a native of our county. Having inherited a large landed estate, occupied by a numerous tenantry, he has been distinguished for kindness and liberality to his tenants. No one is more popular and beloved in the manor of Rensselaerwick than the gentleman to whom the tenants pay their annual dues. Notwithstanding his gre wealth and unequaled social position, he is affable, unpretending, and a favorite with all. We do not claim for Mr. Van Rensselaer brilliant talents of the highest order, but all concede to him thorough education, mature and cultivated scholarship, a clear, sound, strong judgment, a quick and keen perception of the proprieties of life and position, and a large fund of general information, especially upon all subjects affecting the interests of our state and country. His moral qualities are of the highest order. He has no superior in purity of life and inflexibility of integrity. He has always enjoyed the unbounded confidence of his fellowcitizens, and has never omitted the performance of a known duty. He obeyed the call of the Government, and entered the military service as a major-general of militia in the war of 1812; and when our state entered in earnest on the execution of her great project of internal improvements, he was one of the five gentlemen to whom the Legislature committed the conduct of this important undertaking..

These brief views of Mr. Van Rensselaer's character and qualifications show the selection of him as a delegate to the convention to be eminently proper.

JAMES KENT, chancellor of this state. Encouraged and sus

tained, when surrounded by embarrassments, in the few first years of my profession, by a well-founded conviction that Chancellor Kent felt an interest in me, and desired my success, and assured this day of his friendship, I cannot on this occasion express a tithe of what a grateful heart from its fullness would wish to say of this pure and good man-this ripe and finished scholar this profoundly learned and righteous judge. Appointed recorder of the city of New York in 1797, a justice of the Supreme Court in 1798, chief justice in 1804, and chancellor in 1814, he is identified with the judicial history of our state. His own judicial life forms a large portion of that history, and his labors and learning give its pages their chief ornament and value. These labors and this learning are not tarnished by pride of opinion, but beautified by wakefulness to discover and readiness to correct an error. All these high qualities of mind are accompanied by child-like simplicity of life and manners, and an integrity so firm and lofty that the prying and foul breath of slander has never dared even to approach it.

But my present purpose, fellow-citizens, is to direct your attention to the peculiar fitness of Chancellor Kent for the high trust for which he has been nominated.

His judicial duties for the last twenty-five years have required. him to examine and study with care our constitution and laws. He has also held a position for the same length of time which connects him with the legislative department of our state government. I allude to his being a member of the Council of Revision. In discharging his duty in that position, he must have carefully examined every law passed during his term of service, for the purpose of determining not only whether it promoted the public good, but especially whether it violated any provision of the constitution. Hence, every clause of the constitution has been examined by him time and again. He must be as familiar with it as we are with the alphabet. No training could have better fitted him for the important trust of revising our constitution than the discharge of his official duties for a quarter of a century.

AMBROSE SPENCER, chief justice of our Supreme Court. This name is a tower of strength, politically, judicially, and morally. Judge Spencer, as we all know, is no quiet, gentle

lamb. In him we find a powerful intellect united with an ardent, active, restless spirit. He has been for the last twenty years not only an influential and active political leader, but also connected with the judiciary of the state, and during that period has contributed largely to the formation of the high character which it now sustains. He was appointed attorney-general in 1802, a justice of the Supreme Court in 1804, and chief justice in 1819. Being more active than studious, his opinions are characterized more by clearness and strength than juridical learning. Still he is by no means deficient, either in his knowledge of law or his acquaintance with reported cases and elementary treatises. He seldom, if ever, omits to make a few pertinent citations from approved authority to sustain his decisions. All agree that he is an able judge and a great man. He, too, as justice of the Supreme Court and member of the Council of Revision, has received the same training, though not for quite so long a time, as Chancellor Kent, for the important duty of revising our constitution. He is, moreover, familiar with the politics of the state, knows our leading politicians, their aims, and modes of accomplishing them, and will hence be able to exert an influence in the convention to defeat unwise and promote wise measures. His election as delegate to the convention will be fortunate for the State.

ABRAHAM VAN VECHTEN, though last named, and a private citizen, stands not low down, but among the first on the list of able lawyers and statesmen. He has a thorough knowledge of our constitution and laws. Besides an extensive practice at the bar, for many years, he has been a member of our Legislature for eighteen years-first, eight years a senator, from 1798 to 1805; second, six years a member of the Assembly, 1806 and from 1808 to 1812; and third, four years a senator, from 1816 to 1819; and one year, 1810, attorney-general. Mr. Van Vechten has not been a silent or inactive legislator or a mere office lawyer. Gifted with talents of a high order, a pleasant, ready, persuasive, and convincing oratory, an agreeable voice, manly figure, and genial manners, he has always held a high position at the bar, and been distinguished as a wise and influential legislator. Though not a violent partisan, he has always been regarded by his political friends as a wise and reliable adviser. To great